You can definitely tell the weather is warming up around here, because Lucy is totally shedding. If this were a farm, and she was losing her winter coat, that would be one thing, but she’s shedding All.Over.The.House. The HH bought Lucy a new brush, shampoo, and treats to help manage this hairy situation {ha!} and I know he secretly must really like her, although he would probably deny it in public.
I have actually called all of my friends and neighbors telling them not to wear black to my house, for fear they will leave visibly covered in dog hair. I’m sure you already know, but all I wear is black–so we have a real situation on our hands. I looked up a couple of ways to control the shedding, turns out you can’t really stop it, but there are a couple of ways to minimize it’s effects:
- Brush your dog regularly, with a brush that is designed to deal with shedding. That’s easy enough. I think I’ll take Lucy onto the back patio and give her a daily brush to remove excess hair. She’ll probably love it anyway. Or better yet, maybe I’ll talk Andy the Plant Whisperer into doing it for me.
- Make sure your dog is not having an allergic reaction to something outside or their food. {I’m pretty sure this is not the case with Lucy, but I thought it was worth mentioning.}
- Provide a fatty acid supplement. Bonus: it improves the shine and look of their coat as well.
- Vacuum frequently. I know, duh! But staying on top of the situation is key.
- Keep a lint roller close to their bedding. It’s easier to deal with the hair when it’s newly shed than after it has had a chance to work its way down into the fabric.
- Put a blanket down in the the back of the car if your dog rides in the car. It’s easier to shake the blanket out and wash it than it is to obsessively vacuum your car.
- Give your dog occasional baths using a soothing doggie wash. It helps remove excess hair and soothes their skin, if it is irritated.
- That old saying, “you are what you eat” applies to dogs too. Make sure to give them a highly digestible protein. Healthy Treats that encourage your dog to sit still while you groom them are super helpful.
- If money is not really a concern, take your pet to the groomers. They can give your pet a summer do that helps to minimize the effects of shedding.
- If shedding lasts longer than 2 weeks, it’s probably time to head to the vet. Occasionally, shedding is an indication something is medically wrong with your pet.
How do you control your pet’s shedding this time of year?
~Mavis
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By Tanya L.K. Denckla.
Hulda shared and I was able to get a slice of both of them. And you know what? Both desserts were delicious, but this strawberry rhubarb crumble pie was my favorite.
